But snow melts quickly here. Even today the temperature is supposed to be in the 60's prior to the "weather" coming in cold and messy.
It's our mission emphasis week, so I'm thinking about a more lasting transformation of Augusta and the area. I'm thinking about this being more like heaven than whatever you might call this "state" that we are in. For me that would mean folk are mentally healthy, free of addictions, getting education and jobs that fulfill them and fulfill the community. In such a place everyone would have enough food. A community with a higher ethic than "everyone get it if you can" would be replaced with higher values of loving our neighbors like we do ourselves.
Now, I'm old enough to hold on to a dream, yet be realistic that this is tough work. And I know not everyone desires such things.
As I study the Bible, and try to follow Christ, and open my life to the Spirit, it seems like God is up to something new and transformational. I've seen it in many other parts of the world. Why can't I dream for that, and work for that, here in Augusta, Georgia?
The greatest realization is that it takes a team to attempt something so audacious. I certainly don't have the skills, the will power, the resources, and everything else that is necessary to do this sort of thing.
So, I need you. I need you more than ever. I need all of you who posted an MLK quote to jump into the action. I need folk who've given up on church, yet still have a deep interest in living the way of Christ. I need some, maybe many, who've never had an interest in church or religion, yet hunger to change the world. I need a team of transformers who can jump into some deeper conversations to then jump into deeper action.
This ought to be an exciting week in Augusta whether it snows or not!
¨ Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-7:00 PM, Wesley Hall Dining Room, Togo Update by Dr. Esaho & Beatrice Kipuke
¨ Saturday, February 1, 8:30AM-2:00PM, Mission Training
Day-
8:30-9:00 AM -Registration &
Refreshments in Building A Gathering Area (behind sanctuary).
9:00-9:50 AM- Opening Assembly in
sanctuary featuring Dr. Mike Cash.
Session 1– 10:00-10:50AM
Session 2– 11:00AM-11:50AM
Lunch– 12:00-12:45PM, $10 for lunch &
snacks.
Session 3– 1:00-1:50PM
Sarah
McDonald & friends- Homelessness & Poverty—A004
Travis
McNeal & friends- Hunger- A153
Jason
Moore, Doug Frierson, & friends—Public Education—A259
Lauren
Spivey & Kathy Tuckey—Aging & Alzheimer’s – A255
Natalie
Paine & friends—Crime & Violence— A267
Thurman
Norville—Families in Augusta— A261
Shannon Stephens, Brian James,
Anne Watts- Life Skills: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, & Habits- A256
Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly
Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261
Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian
Community Development in Macon- A153
Mr. Gary Locklear– Connecting
Church & Community in NC- A259
Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction &
Substance Abuse Ministry- A256
Rev. Jeffrey Salley & Mrs.
Shirley Townsend-Jones– SC Churches Partnered in Cooperative Ministry- A255
Rev. Carolyn Poling– Youth
Ministry as Outreach- A004
Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth
Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242
Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone:
Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267
Session 3-
Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly
Barge– Prison & After Ministries- A261
Rev. Stacey Harwell– Christian
Community Development in Macon- A153
Mr. Art Mellor– Addiction &
Substance Abuse Ministry- A256
Rev. Lisa Fitzpatrick– Youth
Center Ministry in New Orleans- B242
Rev. Julia Nielsen– Shalom Zone:
Zip Code Partnerships of Church & Community- A267
Rev. Shannon Karafanda– Family
Ministry as Outreach- A004
Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs.
Danielle Meyer— Housing Ministry in Augusta-
A259
Mrs. Marsha Jones– Christian
Re-Neighboring in Augusta/Harrisburg- A255
Check out the displays, enjoy conversation and networking, ask questions
that will help your local ministry, partner in ways that transform church,
agencies, lives, and communities.
Sunday, February 2, Mission Challenge Day
Mission Reports in Sunday School Classes, 9:45-10:45AM
Local Outreach Update– Ann Arnette & team, including Marsha Jones
& Gloria Norwood with the St. Luke/Harrisburg story, in Open Door Class,
A004
National Outreach Update– Steve Wallace & Scott Parrish in Faith
Builders class, with updates on North GA conference work in Russia, Choir
Room/B242
International Outreach Update– Danny Newman & team, including fresh
news from India– Chapel/A151
Worship at 8:30AM & 11:00AM offers opportunity to Celebrate what God
has done through us in mission, and to hear the Challenge for the coming year
in local, national, and international outreach.
Prayerfully consider how you will follow Christ this year as you Pray,
Pay, & Go in mission. It takes all
of us doing our part, using our gifts from God, in order for the Church to be
effective in mission.
TOC is featuring many local experts you may know, plus:
Rev. Lisa
Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of APEX Youth Center & Associate Pastor of
People’s UMC, 2013 CNN Hero, New Orleans; Mrs. Shari Fulmer & Mrs. Danielle
Meyer, Action Ministries at Maxwell Apartments; Rev. Stacey Harwell, Minister
of Community Building at Centenary UMC/Macon; Rev. Shannon Karafanda, Associate
Pastor at Cornerstone UMC; Mr. Gary Locklear, Church & Community Worker,
& North Carolina UM Conference Lay Leader; Mr. Art Mellor, SPSARV Executive
Director; Mrs. Julia Nielsen, Executive Director at Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone and Minister at New Horizons
United Methodist Church, Columbus, OH; Rev. Carolyn Poling, Associate Pastor,
Impact Church, Atlanta GA; Rev. Jeffrey Salley, Director, of the
Bennettsville-Cheraw Area Cooperative Ministry, & Shirley Townsend
Jones, Church & Community Worker.; Rev. Virginia Tinsley & Kelly Barge,
Executive Director of the North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council.
TOC 2014 will be complete if you take your place in the excitement of
“The Kingdom is Near!”
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